Some of the most beloved food and drink could be triggering Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – an expert is advising people to ‘be careful’ and understand what symptoms to look out for
While stomach ache is common and often go away after a short period of time, sometimes persistent pain can indicate something more serious.
If you have been experiencing cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea, and constipation it could mean you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), according to the NHS. The chronic disorder affects around 10 per cent of the UK population and can play havoc with day-to-day life for the people living with it.
The condition can target people of all ages, but it is more commonly diagnosed in those under the age of 50, and women are affected more frequently than men. While IBS is not physically dangerous, the long-term condition can seriously impact an individual’s quality of life as well as affect a person’s mental health due to the embarrassment and unpredictability of the condition.
So understanding how the condition occurs and what signs to look out for is important. A large part of living with IBS and managing the condition is learning what your triggers are – these differ greatly from person to person and include everything from foods to medicines to emotional stress. Some of our favourite snacks, drinks, and vegetables can be triggers – and chocolate lovers will not be pleased to learn that the sweet treat is a trigger.
Dr Alexis Missick, GP at UK Meds has shared her top tips on looking after your gut health and coping with IBS. Although there is no single treatment that works for everyone, nearly everybody with IBS can find a solution that works for them. They may not cure IBS but some medications can be used to treat it effectively, reduce your symptoms and allow you to go about your normal daily life.
Triggers of IBS
Dr Missick also says it’s “wise to be careful with your food”. She added: “This means cooking homemade meals using fresh ingredients, avoiding spicy, fatty or highly processed foods, and being cautious with fresh fruit, tea and coffee.” The medical expert says IBS sufferers should generally avoid drinking caffeine, fizzy drinks, and alcohol.
She explained: “Caffeine can cause diarrhoea, so when IBS sufferers need a pick-me-up, you’re better off reaching for a small snack than a coffee. Fizzy drinks are carbonated with air and as you drink them, you’re also taking in all that extra gas. And since what goes in, must come out, these drinks can cause bloating, trapped wind and constipation.
“The way that the body digests alcohol, paired with the fact that it’s dehydrating and affects liver function, can affect the digestion of a healthy-bodied person. So for someone with IBS, the effects of a boozy night out can be troublesome.”
It’s commonly known that a lot of people with IBS are lactose intolerant, which means that eating dairy-based food can worsen symptoms and cause diarrhoea. Garlic and onions can also be triggers; they can be difficult for your intestines to break down which can cause trapped wind and painful cramping.
Gluten is a protein that is present in a number of different grains (like wheat, rye and barley), and a lot of IBS sufferers are also gluten intolerant. Luckily, there are now so many gluten-free options available that this shouldn’t restrict your diet too much, but just be careful to check food labels or menus and opt for gluten-free Yorkshire puddings if you find that gluten is a trigger for you.
More uncommonly known is that chocolate is high in sugar, but not everyone realises its concentration of caffeine. Dr Missick commented: “Pair the two together and you’ll find that chocolate causes constipation for a lot of IBS sufferers. However, a lot find that vegan chocolate is more tolerable.”
Broccoli and cauliflower are not the easiest to digest, and especially for people without IBS. So if someone with IBS eats them, that tricky digestion can result in trapped wind and constipation. Grating these vegetables can help, but a lot find that cutting them out altogether is best.
Beans and legumes are a great source of protein and are a leading staple for people following a plant-based or vegan diet. However, they can cause gas and bloating, which can lead to painful cramps.
What causes IBS?
The actual cause of IBS is still unknown, although it’s been linked to things such as food passing through your gut at the wrong rate, stress, oversensitivity in the nerves in your gut or a family history of the condition. Some studies suggest that it’s due to the colon being hypersensitive so that the muscles spasm instead of producing slow rhythmic movements.
Another theory is that it’s all about the chemicals that the body makes, including serotonin and gastrin, and how they affect the signal between the digestive system and the brain. IBS is also more prevalent in women than men, leading some to think that hormones play a role – yet to be proven in studies.
Because the cause has proved hard to pinpoint, there is no specific test that a doctor can do to diagnose a sufferer with it, but because of the similarities in symptoms, they will first carry out tests to rule out conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and coeliac disease.
If you think you may have IBS symptoms see the NHS website for more information or visit your GP.
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